Quill drive mechanism and electrical controls



July 29, 1958 R. AFCHRISTY ETAL 2, ,0

QUILL DRIVE MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL CONTROLS Filed Aug. 16, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N N o 0 Q- flu/6722 2119":

QUILL DRIVE MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL CONTROLS Filed Aug. 16, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29, 1958 R. A. CHRISTY ETAL m at m? :I ird in v p NW C e o o m L 6 mm I: W L n Fr Cm 0 M u fi e I 0 L .RJ H i J r 3 F|II11 fun #HE. 6.3M h IHI |I||h|| l I l H Q N Q9]. l E H! T {MM/W74, @g I a QUILL DRIVE MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL CONTROLS Filed Aug. 16, 1952 July 29, 1958 R. A. CHRls'rY EI'AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. A. CHRISTY ETAL 2,845,097

5 Sheets-Shet 4 QUILL DRIVE MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL CONTROLS July 29, 1958 Filed Aug. 16, 1952 July 29, 1958 R. A. CHRISTY ET AL 2,

QUILL DRIVE MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL CONTROLS Filed Aug. 16, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a E Ev i x NE N nhm llIhIl gm ham g r H ER H United States Patent QUILL DRIVE MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL CONTROLS Robert A. Christy, Park Forest, and Leo L. Levitt, Blue Island, 111., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16, 1952, Serial No. 304,814

19 Claims. (Cl. 140--3) The present invention relates in general to weaving machines and more particularly to wire fabric weaving machines adapted to weave a fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced filler or louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of Warp wires 'being twisted together between each adjacent pair of louver wires in order to hold the louver wires in place.

The present invention is directed in general to wire fabric weaving machines of the type disclosed in the patent to M. P. Heinze, 2,214,054, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism for driving a. plurality of quills adapted to twist the warp wires to hold each of the louver wires in place and to also provide an improved control mechanism for the quill driving mechanism.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide driving gearing directly cooperable with the quills which has a lesser mass than is found in conventional weaving machines of this general type. By providing the relatively lighter quill driving mechanism it ispossible to start and stop the rotation of the quills quick-er and to thereby provide a Weaving machine which is capable of operating at a greater rate of speed. This is particularly significant from an economy standpoint.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical control system for wire fabric weaving machines which is capable of insuring that the quill drive mechanism and louver feed mechanism will stop very quickly whenever one of the louver wires is not properly positioned in the Weaving machine. By providing the mechanism for rapidly stopping the machine under such conditions it is possible to prevent the formation of numerous flaws in the completed Wi-re fabric which sometimes occur in the fabric produced by conventional weaving machines.

,In connection with the foregoing object of the present invention, it is another object of the invention to provide a solenoid actuated brake for the main driving shaft which drives the machine. A further object of the invention is to control the supply of power to the brake actuating solenoids and to the motor so that the brake will be disengaged whenever power is supplied to the motor and engaged whenever the power supplied for the motor is cut off. It is a further object to also provide means for insuring that the brake for the main driving shaft will be applied at the same time as or slightly before the power is cut off to the main driving motor whenever the louver wires are improperly fed into the machine. Power to the main driving motor is controlled by a solenoid which breaks the power supply for the motor upon deenergization of the solenoid, however, due to the resid- "ice 2 ual magnetism in the solenoid winding there is a delay in the breaking of the power circuit to the motor and the present invention provides means for applying the brake during this delay.

The above and numerous other detailed objects and numerous advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the principal mechanical features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing the details of the quill drive mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation'al view showing other details of the quill drive mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the 'line 4-4 in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the brake mechanism taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the feed mill driving motor and storage bin, disclosed in detail in the co pending application of R. A. Christy, Ser. No. 262,992, filed December 22, 1951, now U. S. Patent 2,724,591, and louver wire feed mechanism disclosed in detail in the copending application of W. B. Ewing, Ser. No. 308,664, filed September 9, 1952;

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing how Figs. 7A and 7 should be assembled; and

Figs. 7A and 7B comprise a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical control system.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the different views to identify identical parts, the weaving machine comprises, in genera-l, a weaving head 10, including a comb assembly 11 and a quill assembly 12, quill drive mechanism 13, a main driving motor 14, clutch mechanism 15 for connecting the main drive motor 14 with the quill drive mechanism 13, and a brake 16.

The power train from the main driving motor 14 to the clutch 15 will first be described. A stationary casing 17 rotatably mounts a pair of shafts 18 and 19 which, as

shown in Fig. 1, are disposed at right angles to each other. These two shafts are each provided with suitable meshing gearing (not shown) for completing a drive therebetween. The shaft 19 is provided with a suitablepulley 20 and a driving belt 21 extends over the pulley 20 and also over a pulley 22 mounted on the driving shaft of the driving motor 14.

A second stationary casing 23 is also provided, the shaft 18 extending into this latter casing and having a bevel gear 24 secured thereto and disposed within the casing. Also rotatably mounted within the casing 23 are three other shafts, 25, 26 and '27. The shaft 25 extends to the rear of the machine and transmits a drive to a warp wire supply rack (not shown). The shaft 26 extends to the left of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, and completes a drive to the louver wire advancing means 28 shown schematically in Fig. 6 and disclosed in detail in the copending aforementioned Ewing application. The shaft 27 extends upwardly and forwardly out of the casing 23 and is provided with a beveled gear 29 which meshes with the gear 24 in order to provide a drive to the quill, drive mechanism 13. Although no gearing is shown in the casing 23 for operably connecting the shafts 25 and 3 26 with the input shaft 18, such gearing is provided and may be of any desired type which will function to drive the shafts and 26 at the proper speed ratio with respect to the shaft 18.

A plurality of stationary mounting members 30 are provided for rotatably mounting a main drive shaft 31 which carries a plurality of operating cams 32, 33 and 34. Also secured to the shaft 31 is a beveled gear 35 which meshes with. a beveledagear 36 secured to the upwardlyandfon wardlyextendingshaft 27 andthese two gears complete a drive fromthe driving motor 14 totheshaft 31. The cam 32 is provided for driving the clutch mechanism 15, the cams 33 are provided for vertically reciprocating the comb assembly 11 and the earns 34 are provided for moving the comb assembly 11 forwardly and reversely. The opera- 3 tion;of the cams 33 and 34 and the manner in which they move the comb assembly 11 will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The configuration of the, cam 32 is clearly shown in Fig. 3. and a reciprocablelever 37, pivotally mounted on a stationary pivot bolt 38, carries a rotatable cam follower 39 which. cooperates with the periphery of the cam 32. The forward direction of rotation of the cam 32 is counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrow 40, and when it rotates in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown, a sloping surface 41 on the cam periphery cooperates with the follower 39 to pivot the lever 37 clockwise about the bolt 38. A compressible rubber bumper or damper 42, fixedly mounted on a stationary mounting plate 43, engages the lever 37 in order to stop over-travel of the lever 37 when the follower 39 reaches the highest point of the cam 32. A spring 42a holds cam follower 39 in engagement with the periphery of cam 32. It has been foundthat the rubber bumper 42 function better as a means for preventing over-travel of the lever 37 than a spring, such as the spring- 42a when utilized above.

The upper end of the lever 37 is provided with a plurality of gear teeth which form an arcuately shaped'rack or gearsector 44. Thegear teeth comprising the rack 44 meshingly engage the teeth of a gear 45, rotatably mounted upon a shaft 46. Upon rotation of the cam 32 in a counterclockwise direction, the lever 37 is pivoted rapidly in a clockwise direction while the follower 39 climbs the slope 41, thereby rotating the gear 45 in a counterclockwise direction. The lever 37 moves relatively slowly in a counterclockwise direction during the portion of the cycle of rotation of the cam 32 when the follower 39 travels from the high part of the cam to the low part of the cam. Consequently the gear 45 is alternately driven rapidly in a counterclockwise direction and more slowly in a clockwise direction.

The clutch mechanism 15 comprises two elements 46a and 47, the element 46a being integral with the gear 45 and being provided with a plurality of axially extending pins 48. The clutch element 47 is slidably splined on the shaft 46 and is provided with a plurality of axially extending apertures 49 which are adaptedto receive the pins 48 when the element 47 is moved into the position shown in Fig; 2. The clutch element47'is provided with an annular groove 50 for receiving lugs 51 respectively carried by-arms 52' of a bifurcated clutch shift fork 53 pivotally mounted at 54 on a stationary part of the weaving ma chine. The shift fork 53 is also pivotally mounted, as at 55, on an armature 56 of a clutch control solenoid 57. The clutch control solenoid 57 is provided with a clutch engaging winding 58, which when energized moves the armature 56 to the left in order to effect movement of the clutch element 47 to the right, and a clutch disengaging winding 59, which is effective, upon being energized, to move the armature 56 to the right to thereby effect disengagement of the clutch 15. It is therefore apparent that upon engagement of the clutch 15 a drive is transmitted fromthe driving..motor 14 to the shaft 46 and upon disengagement of the clutch .15, this power train is-broken.

The shaft 46 is rotatably mounted by means of a plu- 4 rality of bearing members 60 stationarily affixed to a vertically extending plate 61. The plate 61 is provided with a plurality of shaft receiving apertures 62 for rotatably mounting a corresponding number of short shafts 63. Secured to the shaft 46 are a plurality of beveled gears 64 which respectively mesh with beveled gears 65 secured to each of the shafts 63. Eachof the shafts 63 carries a spur pinion 66 disposed on the opposite side of the plate 61 and each of the pinions 66 meshes with an idler gear 67 identical in all respects with the gears 66 and rotatably mounted on suitable shafts carried by the plate 61.

The quill assembly 12 comprises a plurality of elongated quills 70, each of which is rotatably mounted in suitable apertures 71 formed in the plate 61 and in suitable apertures 72 formed in a vertically extending plate 73 which is also fixed to a stationary portion of the machine. Each of the quills is provided with a pinion 74. The pinions 74 are divided into groups of five and as shown in Fig. 2, the middle pinion of each group of five pinions 74 meshes with either one of the gears 66 or with one of the idler gears 67. Accordingly, upon engagement of the clutch 15 and rotation of the gear 45, a drive is transmitted to each of the quills 70.

Each of the quills 70 is provided with a pair of spaced longitudinally extending apertures (not shown) for respectively receiving warp wires 75. The rearwardly extending portions 76 of each of the quills 70is provided with a plurality of tensioning rollers 77 which maintain the proper tension on the'warp wires. No further detailed description of the quills 70 is deemed necessary inasmuch as they are disclosed in detail and claimed in the copending application of W. B; Ewing, Serial No. 308,663, filed September 9, 1952, now U. S. Patent No. 2,773,518 dated December 11, 1956.

The brake mechanism16'will now be described. The brake'itself comprises a drum element 80 keyed to the shaft 19 and a pair of brake shoes 81 and 82. Each of the shoes 81 and 82 is provided with a friction resistant facing 83 for engaging the surface of drum 80 in order to brake the shaft 19 and stop rotation of the motor 14. The shoes 81 and 82 are respectively pivotally mounted on a stationary plate 84 by means of pivot pins 85. The opposite end of the shoe 82 is pivotally secured to a block 86 while the opposite end of the shoe 81 is'pivotally secured to a pair of levers 87. The block 86 is provided with an aperture 88, with a rod 89 extending through this aperture and pivotally connected to the two levers 87 by means of a pin 90. The opposite end of the rod 89 is provided with a head 91 and a compression spring 92 is disposed between and in abutment with the head 91 and the block 86. The two levers 87 are curved, as shown, and are pivotally connected to a pair of armatures 93 and 94 controlled respectively by a brake disengaging solenoid 95 and a brake engaging solenoid 96. The two solenoids 95 and 96 are suitably connected together by means of a supporting plate 97 and each is stationarily disposed with respect to the plate 84. The two solenoids 95 and 96 are adapted to be alternately energized and upon the encrgization of the disengaging solenoid 95 and deenergization of the engaging solenoid 96, the two armatures 93 and 94 move downwardly, thereby movingthe levers 87 in a clockwise direction about the pin as a pivot point. At this time the right end of the rod 89 moves downwardly and the upper ends of-the brake shoes 82 and 81 are spread apart slightly and this effects disengagement of the brake 16. When the solenoid 96 is energized and the solenoid is deenergized the armatures 94 and 93 are moved upwardly so as to bring the two levers 87 upwardly, pivoting these two levers about their opposite ends as pivot points. This causes the right end of rod 89 to move upwardly and effects alignment of the rod 89 with the levers 87. thereby forcing the upper ends of the brake shoes 82 and 81 together -against the brake drum 80 to cause en-.

gagement of the brake. During engagement of the brake,

the compression spring 92 determines the force of engagement due to the fact that the rod 89 is reciprocable through the block 86. Even though the brake shoes become worn, the brake 16 is engaged with substantially the same force of engagement as when the shoes are practlcally new, since the engaging force is actually supplied and controlled by the spring 92.

The comb assembly 11 comprises a front comb section 100 and a rear comb section 101, the front comb section being carried by a member 102 and being reciprocable vertically with respect to the rear comb section 101. The rear comb section is carried by a member 103 which is pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft 104. An oper-' ating arm 105 is secured to the member 103 and this operating arm is provided with an adjusting screw 106 which is positioned on top of a cam follower lever 107. A cam follower 108 carried by the lever 107 rides the cam 34 and upon rotation of the shaft 31 the cam 34 functions to move the member 103 together with the comb assembly 11 forwardly and reversely.

The member 102 supports the front comb section and has a member 109 secured thereto which is provided with a slot 110 that receives a roller 111 therein. The roller 111 is rotatably secured to a lever 112 mounted pivotally on the arm 105 by means of a suitable pivot shaft 113 and the lever 112 extends further rearwardly of the machine and is provided with an adjusting screw 114. Also pivotally secured to the arm 105 is a cam follower lever 115 which is provided with a follower roller 116 which cooperates with the cam 33. Upon rotation of the cam 33, during rotation of the shaft 31, the front comb section 100 is reciprocated between the position shown in Fig. 3 and a slightly lower posiiton.

The cams 33, 34 and 32 are so designed as to function in sequence upon rotation of the shaft 31. While the cam 32 rotates from the position shown to a position where the follower 39 is on the high part of the cam 32, the cams 33 and 34 function to maintain the comb assembly 11 in the position shown in Fig. 3. Upon further rotation of the shaft 31, the cams 33 and 34 are effective to move the comb assembly 11 forwardly slightly and to move the front comb. section 100 downwardly slightly.

Referring to Fig. 6, a pair of rollers 117 together comprise a feed mill which is driven by a motor 118. The feed mill functions to maintain a supply of louver wire in a storage bin 119. As stated heretofore the details of the feed mill and storagebin are disclosed fully and claimed in the copending application of R. A. Christy, Serial No. 262,992, now U. S. Patent 2,724,591 and it is not deemed necessary to describe this mechanism further in the present application. The louver wire 120, upon emerging from the storage bin 119, is fed between the comb sections 100 and 101, through a channel 121 formed by the comb sections 100 and 101, by a pair of feed rollers 122. These feed rollers are operated in timed sequence with the operation of the other functions of the machine. As was stated heretofore, the mechanism for operating the rollers 122 comprises the louver wire advancing means 28, driven by the shaft 26 and disclosed fully in the copending W. B. Ewing application Serial No. 308,664, and further description of this apparatus is not deemed necessary. It will suffice to state at this point that the louver wire advancing means 28 functions to feed the louver wire 120 through the channel 121 in timed sequence with the other functions of the machine.

Suitable means are provided for cutting oif the louver wire 120 at the left end of the channel 121 (as viewed in Fig. 1) and such means may comprise a stationary shearing block 122a which cooperates with the end of the rear comb section 101 during forward movement of the comb assembly 11 at the end of each tying cycle. The end of the rear comb section 101 cooperates with the block 122a to shear the louver wire 120 at a point in alignment with the left end of the rear comb section 101.

The sequence of operations is as follows: The louver wire advancing means 28 functions to feed the louver wire 120 into the channel 121. By the time the louver wire is fed completely into the channel, the shaft 31 will have rotated to a point at which cams 33 and 34 will have moved the comb assembly 11 to the tie position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the cam 32 occupies the position shown in Fig. 3. The louver wire remains stationary in the channel 121 and continued rotation of the cam 32 causes reciprocation of the lever 37. The clutch 15 is engaged prior to the reciprocation of the lever 37 in a clockwise direction and accordingly, as the follower 39 climbs the slope 41 of the cam 32 the quills are rotated, with adjacent quills being rotated in opposite directions, through 360, so as to cause a full twist of each pair of warp wires between the quills 70 and the comb assembly 11. Immediately thereafter, and as a result of the continued rotation of the shaft 31, the two cams 33 and 34 function to move the comb assembly 11 forwardly and to lower the front comb section so as to move the completed woven wire fabric forwardly slightly. Additional mechanism (not shown) is provided for retaining the completed wire fabric in its forwardly advanced position, such additional mechanism preferably being of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of R. A. Christy, Ser. No. 304,813, filed August 16, 1952, now U. S. Patent 2,735,453. Further rotation of the cams 33 and 34 returns the comb assembly 11 to the position shown in Fig. 3 preparatory to the advance of the next succeeding louver wire into the channel 121.

The control system for controlling the operation of the brake 16, clutch 15, motor 14 and motor 118 will now be described. Three timing cams 125, 126 and 127 rotate with shaft 31 and function to open and close a plurality of control switches. The cam has a high point 128 which is adapted to open a normally closed switch 129. The cam 126 has a high point 130 which is adapted to open a normally closed switch 131. The cam 127 has an elongated high portion 132 adapted to close .a normally open switch 133, to open a normally closed switch 134 and to close a normally open switch 135. A normally closed louver wire kick-out switch 136 is disposed between the feed rollers 122 and the comb assembly 11 and when the louver wire 120 encounters too much friction upon being advanced through the channel 121, it forms a loop between the rollers 122 and the comb assembly 11 which engages the switch 136, causing it to open. A louver arrival switch 137 is provided at the right end of the comb assembly 11 and upon engagement of the louver wire 120 with the switch 137, this switch is closed. A normally open clutch switch 138 is controlled by the armature 56 of clutch solenoid 57 and when the armature 56 moves to a position so as to cause full engagement of the clutch 15, the clutch switch 138 is closed.

Referring now specifically to the circuit disclosed in Figs. 7a and 712, three high voltage motor and brake power supply lines 141, 142 and 143 are provided. A disconnect switch 144 is movable to a closed position and in such position, respectively connects the power supply lines 141, 142 and 143 with leads 145, 146 and 147. The lead extends to a terminal 148 in a mill solenoid 149 and the lead 145 has a branch 150 which extends to a terminal 151 in a forward main drive motor solenoid 152 and to a terminal 153 in a reverse main drive motor solenoid 154. The lead 146 extends to a movable contact 155 of -a brake control relay 156 and the lead 146 has a branch lead 157 which extends to a terminal 158 in the mill solenoid 149. The lead 146 has another branch 159 which extends to a terminal 160 in the forward main motor solenoid 152, to a terminal 161 in the reverse main drive motor solenoid 154, and to both clutch solenoids 58 and 59. The lead 147 extends to a movable contact 162 of the brake control relay 156, and has a branch 163 leading to a terminal 164, in the mill motor solenoid 149. The lead 147 also has a second branch 165 which extends to a terminal 166 in the forward main drive motor solenoid 152, to a terminal 167 in the reverse main drive motor solenoid 154,- and to a movable contact 168 in a clutch control relay 169.

The circuit shown in Figs. 7a and 7b also includes a control panel 170 having a start button 171, a reverse button 172, a mill button 173 and a stop button 174. The circuit also includes a motor control relay 175, a light control relay 176, an electronic control mechanism 177, an electronic time delay mechanism 178, a brake disengaging relay 179 and an inching relay 180.

The circuit also includes a pair of power suppiy lines 181 and 182 for providing a source of electrical power for actuating the control mechanism. A disconnect switch 183 is provided for respectively connecting lines 181 and 182 with a pair of leads 184 and 185. A

red indicator light 186 has two leads 187 and 188 respectively connected with the leads 184 and 185 and closure of the switch 183 causes the light 186 to become illuminated, thereby indicating the fact that the switch 183 is closed. A transformer 189 has a primary wind ing 190 connected respectively with leads 184 and 185 by means of leads 191 and 192. Isolation transformer 193 has a primary winding 194 whose terminals are respectively connected with leads 184 and 185.

The lead 184 has a branch 195 connected with an upper terminal 196 of the stop switch 174 in the control panel 170. The branch lead 195 has a branch 197 which is connected with a movable contact 198 in the light control relay 176. The lead 185 has a branch lead 199 which is connected with a terminal 200. A branch 201, connected with the lead 199 extends to one terminal of the winding 202 of the reverse solenoid 154. A lead 201a extends from the opposite terminal of the winding 202 to a lower terminal 203 of the reverse switch .172 in the control panel 170.

The forward solenoid 152 includes a winding 204 and a reciprocable core 205 which is adapted to move up upon energization of the winding 204. The core 205 controls four switch blades 206, 207, 208 and 209. Upon energization of the winding 204 the switch blades 206- 209 are moved upwardly and respectively connect a terminal 210 with the terminal 151, a terminal 211 with the terminal 160, the terminal 166 with a terminal 212, and two terminals 213 and 214. The bridging of the terminals 210 and 151 by the switch blade 206 extends current from lead 150 to a lead 215 connected with the motor 14. The bridging of the terminals 211 and 160 extends current from the lead 159 to a lead 216 and thence to the motor 14 and to a Winding 217 of the brake control relay 156. The bridging of the terminals 166' and 212 by the switch blade 208 extends current from the lead 165 over a lead 218 to the motor 14 and over a lead 219 to a movable contact 220 in the brake disengaging relay 179 and to a contact 221 in the inching relay 180.

When the coil 204 of the solenoid 152 is energized to cause the armature 205 to move the switch blades 206209 into bridging engagement with the associated terminals, this completes power circuits to the main driving motor 14 which cause the driving motor 14 to rotate in a forward direction, thereby causing the shaft 31 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3.

The reverse solenoid 154 has an armature 222 and this armature is adapted to move, upon energization of the coil 202, so as to cause switch blades 223, 224 and 225 to respectively bridge a pair of terminals 226 and 153, the terminals 227 and 161, and a pair of terminals including a terminal 228 and the terminal 167. The bridging of the terminals 226 and 153 by the switch 223 extends current from lead 150 over a lead 229 and thence over the lead 216 to the main driving motor 14. The

bridging of the terminals 226 and 153 by the switch blade 223 also extends current from lead 150 to the winding 217 of the brake control relay 156. When the switch blade 224 bridges terminals 227 and 161, current from the lead 159 is extended over a lead 230 and over the lead 215 to the main driving motor 14. When switch blade 225 bridges terminals 228 and 167 current from the lead 165 is extended to a lead 231 and passes over the lead 218 to the main driving motor 14 and over the lead 219 to the movable contact 220 of the brake disengaging relay 179 and to the contact 221 of the inching relay 180. The circuits completed to the main driving motor 14 upon energization of the reverse solenoid 154, when the switch blades 223-225 respectively bridge their associated terminals, complete power circuits to the main driving motor to cause it to rotate in a reverse direction, the direction which causes the shaft 31 to rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3).

The mill solenoid 149 includes an energizing coil 232 and a reciprocable armature 233 which is effective upon energization of the coil 232 to move switch blades 234, 235 and236 so that they respectively bridge a terminal 237 and the terminal 148, a terminal 238 and the terminal 158, and a terminal 239 and the terminal 164. The bridging of the terminals 237 and 148 by the switch blade 234 extends current from lead 145 over a lead 240 to the mill motor 118. The bridging of the terminals 238 and 158 by the switch blade 235 extends current from lead 146 over the lead 157 and over a lead 241 to the mill motor 118. The bridging of the terminals 239 and 164 by the switch blade 236 extends current from the lead 147 and over the lead 163, to a lead 242 to the mill motor 118. Upon the completion of the three energizing circuits to the mill motor 118, the motor functions to drive the rollers 117 and thereby supply louver wire to the storage bin 119.

The brake control relay 156 includes a core 243 controlled by the coil 217 and also includes four stationary contacts 244, 245, 246 and 247. Upon energization of the winding 217, the core 243 attracts the movable contacts 162 and 155, causing these contacts to respectively engage stationary contacts 244 and 246'. When the contacts 162 and 155 respectively engage the contacts 244 and 246 an energizing circuit for the brake disengaging solenoid is completed and this circuit extends from lead 147, through contacts 162 and 244, over a lead 248, through the brake disengaging solenoid 95, over a lead 250, through contacts 246 and to lead 146. Upon deenergization of the winding 217 of the brake control relay 156, the movable contacts 162 and 155 occupy the positions shown, respectively engaging stationary contacts 245 and 247. Under these conditions a circuit is completed from the lead 147, through contacts 162 and 245, over a lead 251, through the winding of the brake engaging solenoid 96, over a lead 252, through the contacts 247 and 155 to the lead 146.

The motor control relay 175 includes an operating winding 253 which is wound around a core 254. The motor control relay also includes a pair of movable contacts 255 and 256 and a pair of stationary contacts 257 and 258. When the winding 253 of the motor control relay 175 is energized the core 254 attracts the movable contacts 255 and 256, thereby moving them so that they respectively engage contacts 257 and 258. The contact 255 is electrically connected with the terminal 213 in the forward solenoid 152 by means of a lead 259. The contact 257 is connected by means of a lead 260 to a lead 261 which connects one end of the winding 204 with a terminal 262 in the control panel 170. The contact 256 is also connected with the lead 261 by means of a lead 263. The contact 258 is connected with a terminal 264 in the control panel by means of a lead 265.

The light control relay 176 includes an operating winding 266 which is wound around a core 267 and this relay also includes, besides the movable contact 198, another 9 movable contact 268 and a pair of stationary contacts 269 and 270. When the winding 266 of the light control relay 176 is energized the core 26. attracts both contacts 198 and 268, thereby moving them out of engagement with contacts 269 and 270 respectively. Upon deenergization of the winding'266, the contacts 198 and 268 move to the positions shown. As already described, the contact 198 is connected with the lead 197. The contact 268 is connected with a lead 271 which extends to the cathode 272 in an electron tube 273 in the time delay mechanism 178. The contact 270 is connected with a lead 274 which extends to and is connected with a lead 275 leading to one terminal 276 of the secondary winding 277 of the isolation transformer 193. The contact 269 is connected with a lead 278 extending to a green indicator light 279 and an amber indicator light 280.

The clutch control relay 169 includes an operating winding 281 and a core 282. The clutch control relay also includes two stationary contacts 283 and 284 which are adapted to be engaged respectively by the movable contact 168 upon energization and denergization of the winding 281. The contact 284 is connected to the disengaging winding 59 of the clutch solenoid 57 by means of a lead 285 and the contact 283 is connected to the engaging winding 58 of the clutch solenoid 57 by means of a lead 286. When the winding 281 of the clutch control relay 169 is deenergized, the movable contact 168 assumes the position shown, in engagement with the contact 284, and thus completes a circuit to the clutch disengaging solenoid winding 59, which circuit extends from lead 165, through the contacts 168 and 284, over lead 285 and through the winding 59 to the lead 159. Upon energization of the winding 281, contact 168 is attracted by the core 282 and moves into engagement with contact 283. At this time an energizing circuit for the clutch engaging winding 58 of the clutch solenoid 57 is completed and this circuit extends from the lead 165 through the contacts 168 and 283, over the lead 286 and through the winding 58 to the lead 159.

The brake disengaging relay 179 includes a winding 287 and a core 288. This relay also includes, besides the movable contact 220, a movable contact 289 and a pair of stationary contacts 290 and 291. When the winding 287 of the brake disengaging relay 179 is deenergized, the contacts 220 and 289 assume the positions shown, disengaged from contacts 290 and 291, and upon energization of the winding 287, the core 288 attracts the contacts 220 and 289, thereby moving them into engagement with contacts 290 and 291.

The inching relay 180 includes a winding 292 and a core 293 and is also provided with a movable contact 294. Upon energization of the winding 292 the core 293 attracts the contact 294, moving it into engagement with the contact 221.

The transformer 189 includes a secondary winding 295 for supplying power to a control circuit which will now be described. This control circuit extends from one terminal 296 of the secondary winding 295, over a lead 297 to a terminal 298. The circuit branches at terminal 298, with one branch 299 extending to a movable contact 300 in a time delay relay 301. The contact 300 is adapted to move into engagement with a contact 302 in the time delay relay 301 and upon such engagement of the contact 300 with the contact 302 the control circuit is then extended over a lead 303 to a terminal 304. Another branch of the control circuit extends from the terminal 298 over a lead 305 to the movable contact 289, and upon engagement of the contact 289 with the contact 291 the circuit is extended to the terminal 304 over a lead 306. From the terminal 304, the control circuit extends over a lead 307, through the louver kick-out switch 136, over a lead 308, through either the normally closed cam operated switch 129 or through the normally open clutch operated switch 138, over a lead 309, through either the normally closed switch 131 or over a lead 310,

through a contact 311, through a movable contact 312, and over a lead 313 to a terminal 314. From the terminal 314, the control circuit extends over leads 315, 316 and 317, through the winding 253 of the motor control relay 175, over leads 318, 319and 320 to the opposite terminal 321 of the secondary winding 295 of the transformer 189.

The control circuit also extends from the terminal 314, over leads 315 and 316, through the winding 266 of the light control relay 176, and thence to the terminal 321, over leads 319 and 320. Another branch of the control circuit extends from the terminal 314, over leads 315 and 316, to a terminal 322 and thence over a lead 323, through the normally open clutch control switch 133,- through the winding 281 of the clutch control relay 169, and over the lead 320 to the terminal 321.

Thus the winding 253 of the motor control relay 175, the winding 266 of the light control relay 176 and the winding 281 of the clutch control relay 169 are all connected in parallel and upon closure of either contacts 300 and 302 or contacts 289 and 291 the control circuit is conditioned for operation. Of course, they completion of the control circuit is also dependent upon the closure of the louver kick-out switch 136, the closure of the switches 129, 138 and 131, and the closure of the contact 312 against the contact 311.

The electronic control mechanism 177 includes a relay winding 324, wound around a core 325 for controlling the movable contact 312. A circuit for energizing the winding 324 extends from the second terminal 326 of the secondary winding 277 of the isolation transformer 193, over a lead 327, through the winding 324 and over a lead 328 to a plate 329 in an electron tube 330. A condenser 331 is connected between the leads 328 and 327 and in parallel with the winding 324. The terminal 276 of the secondary winding 277 supplies voltage to a filament 332 of the tube 330 over a circuit extending over lead 275, to terminal 333, over lead 334, through a resistor 335, through terminal 336 and over a lead 337. The tube 330 includes a grid 338 which is connected to terminal 336 by means of a lead 339, resistor 340 and potentiometer 341, the potentiometer 341 and resistor 340 being connected electrically by means of a lead 342. The short lead 342 is connected to a spring contact 343 which comprises one terminal of the louver arrival switch 137 and the other terminal of this switch comprises the louver wire 120, which is grounded as indicated at 344. The louver arrival switch 137 is closed upon advance of the louver wire to the proper position in the channel 121. As is apparent, the proper position for the louver wire 120 in the channel 121 is the position wherein it is in engagement with the spring contact 343. The filament 332 is grounded by means of a lead 345, terminal 346 and resistor 347 connected to ground. The lead 327 is connected to the terminal 346 by means of a line including a resistor 348.

The time delay mechanism 178 includes the time delay relay 301 and this relay comprises a winding 349 which is Wound around a core 350 and which has two terminals 351 and 352. A condensor 353 is connected between the terminals 351 and 352 in parallel with the winding 349. The terminal 351 is connected to plate 354 in the tube 273 by means of a lead 355. The terminal 352 is connected to the cathode 272 by means of a lead 356, resistor 357 and a lead 358. The terminal 352 is also connected with the lead 327 by means of leads 356, 359 and 360. The tube 273 includes a grid 361 which is connected to the lead 358 by means of a lead 36-2. The time delay mechanism 178 also includes a stepdown transformer 363 having a primary winding 364 connected to terminals 326 and 276 of isolation transformer 193, the circuit between the secondary winding 277 of the isolation transformer 193 and the primary winding 364 of the stepdown transformer 363 extending from the ter-.

minal 326, over lead 360, through primary winding 364,

over a lead 365, to terminal 333, and over lead 275 to terminal 276. The stepdown-transformer 363 has a secondary winding 366 which furnishes voltage to a filament 377 of tube 273 over a circuit extending from the secondary winding 366 over leads 378 and 379, terminal 380 and lead 381. One terminal 382 of the primary winding 364 is connected with a control grid 383 of the tube 273 over a circuit including a lead 384, potentiometer 385 or condenser 386, through a resistor 387 and over a lead 388 to the control grid 383. The terminal 380 is connected to the lead 384 through a resistor 389.

The start button 171 in the control panel 170 actuates a switch blade 390, this switch blade being normally in engagement with a pair of terminals 391. Upon depression of the start button 171 the switch blade 390 electrically connects the terminal 262 with a terminal 392. The reverse button 172 in the control panel 170 actuates a switch blade 393 and in the normal position of the switch blade 393 (as shown) the blade electrically connects a terminal 394 with :a terminal 395. Upon depression of the reverse button 172 the blade 393 bridges the terminal 203 and a terminal 396. The mill button 173 in the control panel 170 has a switch blade 397 which normally connects a terminal 398 with the terminal 264 and upon depression of the mill button 173 the blade 397 electrically connects a pair of terminals 399 and 400. The stop button 174 in the control panel 170 has a switch blade 401 which, in the normal position of the stop button 174, connects the terminal 196 with a terminal 402. Upon depression of the stop button 174 the blade 401 engages terminals 403 and the terminals 196 and 4-02 are electrically disconnected.

A description of the operation of the circuit will now be made. In order to condition the electrical controls for operation, the switch 14-4 is closed so as to extend the high voltage lines 141, 142 and 143 to the leads 145, 146 and 147. The low voltage lines 181 and 182 are extended to leads 184 and 185 upon closure of the switch 183. As is obvious, upon closure of the switch 183 a circuit is completed from lead 184, over lead 187, through the red indicator light 186, and over the lead 188 to the lead 185. This causes the indicator light 186 to illuminate, thereby indicating that the low voltage switch 183 is closed. The closure of the low voltage switch causes current to be extended to primary windings 190 and 194 of transformers 139 and 193 respectively and upon energization of the primary winding 194, current is also generated in the secondary winding 277 which causes energization of the primary winding 364 of the stepdown transformer 363.

The energization of the primary winding 190 in the transformer 189 causes current to be generated by the secondary winding 295 which provides current for the control circuit. After a predetermined interval of time, which is necessary for the tube 273 to heat up, an energizing circuit is completed for the coil 349 of the time delay relay 301. The core 350, upon energization of the winding 349, attracts the movable contact 300 causing it to engage contact 302, and thus closes the circuit between terminal 296 of the secondary winding 295 and the louver kick-out switch 136. The closure of the contact 300 against the contact 302 also completes an energizing circuit for the inching relay 180, this circuit extending from the terminal 296, over lead 297, through terminal 298, over lead 299, through contacts 300 and 302, over lead 303, through terminal 304, over lead 306, over a lead 404, through winding 292 of the inching relay 180, over a lead 405, over a lead 406, and over leads 318, 319 and 320 to the opposite terminal 321 of the secondary winding 295'. The completion of this circuit causes winding 292 of the inching relay 180 to be energized and the core 293 of this relay then effects closure of contact 294 against the contact 221. The closure of these contacts 294 and 221 conditions the brake control relay 156 for operation, the conditioning circuit for the brake control relay 166 extending from lead 218, over lead 219, through contacts 221 and 294, over a lead 407 and through the winding 217 of the brake control relay 156. Prior to actual completion of the circuit through the winding 217 of the brake control relay 156, a circuit is completed from lead 147, through contacts 162 and 245, lead 251, brake engaging solenoid winding 96, lead 252, contacts 247 and to lead 146. It is therefore apparent that at this time the brake engaging solenoid 96 is energized to cause engagement of the brake 16 and thus the entire drive mechanism is stationary.

As stated previously, the control cam 127 controls switches 134 and 135. If the high part 132 of the cam 127 is in a position in which the switch 134 is closed and the switch 135 is opened, and the winding 266 of the light control relay 176 is deenergized, due to the fact that the louver kick-out switch 136 or any of the other switches in the control circuit are open, a circuit will be established for eflfecting illumination of the amber light 280. This circuit extends from lead over a lead 408, through closed switch 134, over a lead 409, through the amber light 280, over lead 278, through contacts 269 and 198 and over leads 197 and to line 184. When the amber light is illuminated this is indicative of the fact that the cam 32 is not in the proper position to give the clutch solenoid 5'7 sufiicient time to effect engagement of the clutch 15 prior to rotation of the cam 32 to that position of its revolution when the follower 39 climbs the slope 41. Accordingly, when the amber light 280 is illuminated, the driving motor 14 should be inched backwardly in order to effect reverse rotation of the cam 32 until the cam 127 rotates to a point at which switch 134 is opened and 135 is closed. When switch 135 is closed, this completes a circuit to the green indicator light 279, which circuit extends from the lead 403, through the switch 135, over a lead 410, through the green indicator light 279, over lead 278, through the contacts 269 and 198 and over leads 197 and 195 to line 184. Illumination of the green indicator light 279 indicates the fact that the machine is in proper condition to be started.

In order to inch the driving motor 14 reversely so as to bring the clutch actuating cam 32 into the correct position, the operator depresses the reverse button 172 and holds it depressed until the amber light becomes extinguished and the green light 279 becomes illuminated. Depression of the reverse button 172 causes completion of the reversing circuit for the main driving motor 14. The depression of the reverse button 172 completes a circuit from line 181, over leads 184 and 195, through terminal 196, switch blade 401 and terminal 402, over a lead 411, through terminal 396, switch blade 393 and terminal 203, over lead 201a, through winding 202 of reverse solenoid 154, over leads 201, 199 and 185 to line 182. This etfects energization of reverse solenoid winding 202 and causes the armature 222 thereof to move the switch blades 223-225 into bridging engagement with their associated terminals. The hereinbefore described reversing circuit for the driving motor 14 is thereupon established for so long as the reverse button 172 is held in its depressed position.

When the driving motor 14 stops, due to the breaking of the control circuit, it is sometimes desirable to inch the machine forwardly in order to make it possible to more easily correct the trouble which caused the machine to stop. After a predetermined interval of time, as has already been described, the time delay relay 301 functions to close its contacts 300 and 302 and this completes an energizing circuit for the inching relay 180. Because of the fact that the control circuit will be broken at this time, due to the opening of one of the control switches, the motor control relay winding 253 is deenergized and the movable contacts 255 and 256 of this relay are disengaged from their associated stationary contacts. Therefore, depression of the start button 171 will complete an energizing circuit for the winding 204 of the forward main drive motor solenoid 152 for only so long as the start button 171 is held depressed. Because of the fact that the motor control relay 175 is deenergized the locking circuit for the forward solenoid 152 and the energizing circuit for the mill solenoid 149 are not completed until the control circuit is again completed in order to effect reenergization of the motor control relay 175.

If a louver wire 120 is in the proper position in the channel 121 so that the louver kick-out switch 136 is closed and the control cams 125 and 126 are in the proper positions to allow switches 129 and 131 to be closed, the closed time delay relay switch comprising contacts 300 and 302 completes the control circuit through the windings of the motor control relay 175, light control relay 176 and brake disengaging relay 179. Upon energization of the brake disengaging relay winding 287, movable contacts 220 and 289 are attracted by the core 288 until they respectively engage contacts 290 and 291. It will be noted that the circuit leading from terminal 298, over lead 305, through contacts 289 and 291 and over lead 306 to the terminal 304 is in parallel with the circuit through the time delay relay movable contact 300 and upon energization of the brake disengaging relay 179 the control circuit remains established even though the time delay relay subsequently becomes deenergized thereby allowing the movable contact 300 to become disengaged from the contact 302. The contact 220 and the contact 290, upon being engaged, it will be recalled, complete the conditioning circuit for thebrake control relay winding 217.

The control mechanism is now in condition for starting the weaving machine and this is accomplished by the momentary depression of the start button 171 to cause blade 390 to bridge-terminals 262 and 392. The bridging of these two terminals bythe depression of the'start button completes an energizing circuit for the forward solenoid winding 204 and this circuit extends from line 181, over leads 184 and 195, through terminal 196, switch blade 401, terminal 402, lead 411, terminal 395, blade 393, terminal 394, terminal 392, blade 390, terminal 262,

lead 261, winding 204, terminal 200 and leads 199 and 185 to line 182. v

The energization of the winding 204 causes switch blades 206209 to engage their respective terminals, thereby completing the aforedescribed forward energizing circuit for the driving motor 14. The closure of the blades 207 and 208 also completes an energizing circuit for the winding 217 of the brake control relay 156. This circuit extends from line 142, over leads 146 and 159, through terminal 160, blade 207, terminal 211, lead 216, winding 217, lead 407, over a lead 412, through contacts 290 and 220, over the leads 219 and 218, through terminal 212, blade 208, terminal 166 and over lead 165 to line 143.

The energization of the winding 217 of the brake control relay 156 causes the core 243 to attract movable contacts 162 and 155. The contacts 162 and 155 are thereupon moved into engagement with contacts 244 and 246 respectively, thereby completing the aforedescri'bed energizing circuit for the brake disengaging solenoid 95.

Assuming that the control circuit is completed at this time so as to cause energization of the winding 253 of the motor control relay 175, the core 254 of this relay attracts movable contacts 255 and 256, moving them into engagement with contacts 257 and 258 respectively. The closure of the switch blade 209 across terminals 213 and 214 completes a locking circuit 'for the winding 204 of the forward solenoid 152 and this locking circuit extends from line 181, over leads 184 and 195, through terminal 196, blade 401, terminal 402, lead 411, terminal 214, blade 209, terminal 213, lead-259, contacts 255 and 257, leads 260 and 261, through winding 204 of the forward solenoid 152, through terminal 200 and over leads 199 and'185 to line 182. The closure of the switch blade v209 across terminals 213 and 214 also completes an energizing circuit for the mill solenoid winding 232, this circuit being the same as the locking circuit for the solenoid winding 204 up to lead 261 and extending from the lead 261 over the lead 263, contacts 256 and 258,1ead 265, terminal 264, blade 397, terminal 398, lead 413, winding 232 of the mill solenoid 149, to terminal 200, and over leads 199 and 185 to line 182. The locking circuit for forward solenoid 152 and the circuit just traced for energizing the mill solenoid 149 are parallel circuits and for so long as the control circuit remains completed so as to cause continued energization of the winding 253 of the motor control relay 175, the forward solenoid winding 204 and the mill solenoid winding 232 remain energized.

Upon energization of the mill solenoid winding 232 its armature 233 moves the blades 234236 respectively into engagement with the associated terminals and thereby completes the aforedescribed actuating circuit for the mill motor 118 from power lines 141143.

Upon operation of the driving motor 14, shaft 31 and cam 127 are rotated until the high part 132 of the cam 127 effects closure of the switch 133. The closure of this switch completes an energizing circuit for the clutch control relay winding 281, and this circuit extends from the terminal 296 of the secondary winding 295 of the transformer 189, over leads 297 and 305, contacts 289 and 291, leads 306 and 307, through the closed louver kick-out switch 136, over lead 308, through normally closed switch 129, over lead 309, through normally closed switch 131, terminal 314, leads 315, 316 and 323, through now closed switch 133, winding 281 of the clutch control relay 169, and over lead 320 to the opposite terminal 321 of the secondary winding 295. The completion of this circuit effects energization of the winding 281 and the core 282 of the clutch control relay 169 attracts the movable contact 168, thereby breaking the energizing circuit to the clutch disengaging solenoid winding 59 and completing the aforedescribed energizing circuit for the clutch engaging solenoid winding 58.

Assuming that the clutch 15 becomes completely engaged, the clutch switch 138 is thereupon closed by such engagement of the clutch. Assuming further that the louver feed mechanism functions to feed a louver wire 120 into the channel 121 without causing opening of the louver wire kick-out switch 136 and that the louver is fed sufficiently far into the channel to engage the spring contact 343, the control circuit remains energized. The engagement of the louver 120 with the spring contact 343 causes negative potential to be applied to the grid 338 of the tube 330 thereby causing a deenergization of the relay winding 324. The core 325 of this relay thereupon releases the movable contact 312 which then engages contact 311. Contact 312 engages contact 311 just prior to the opening of the switch 161 by the high point 130 of control cam 126 in order to maintain the control circuit completed.

The engagement of the clutch 15 thus takes place prior to the advancement of the cam 32 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and assuming that the clutch is completely engaged, continued rotation of the cam 32 causes a drive to be completed to the quills which each rotate through 360 to thus tie each pair of warp wires behind the louver 'wire disposed in channel 121. When the cam 32 advances to a position wherein the follower roller 39 is riding on the high part of the cam, the control cam 127 Will have advanced to a position to again effect opening of the switch 133. This breaks the energizing circuit for the clutch control relay winding 281 and the core 282 permits the contact 168 to retract and engage contact 284. This again completes the energizing circuit for the clutch disengaging solenoid 59. The armature 56 of the clutch solenoid 57, as viewed in Fig. l, is moved to the right and this, in turn, moves the collar 47 to the left to withdraw the collar from the pins 48. The clutch member 46a and the gear member 45 are thus disconnected from the shaft 46 and during continued rotation of the cam 32 in a counterclockwise direction the arm 37 slowly rotates counterclockwise on pivot bolt'38 to the position shown in Fig. 3 preparatory to the next cycle.

If, during any cycle of the weaving machine, the louver wire encounters too much friction while it is being advanced through the channel 121 by the feed rollers 122, the louver will bow outwardly and engage louver wire kick-out switch 136, thereby opening this switch. In such case the control circuit for maintaining the motor control relay 175, the light control relay 176 and the h brake disengaging relay 179 energized is immediately broken. Likewise, if the clutch 15 is not completely engaged, the control circuit is broken upon opening of the switch 129 by the cam due to the failure of the clutch to close the overlapping normally open switch 138. Similarly, the control circuit for maintaining the control relays energized is broken if any louver wire fails to be advanced into the channel 121 a sutlicient distance to engage spring contact 343, for in such case there will be no completed bridging circuit in parallel with the switch 131 which is opened when the high part of the cam 126 opens the switch 131.

When the control circuit is broken, the motor control relay 175, light control relay 176 and brake disengaging relay 179 are immediately deenergized. The deenergization of the motor control relay 175 permits the movable contacts 255 and 256 to retract from engagement with their associated contacts 257 and 258, thereby breaking the locking circuit for the forward motor solenoid 152 and the energizing circuit for the mill solenoid 149.

When the winding 204 of the forward solenoid 152 becomes deenergized, the armature 205 retracts and moves the switch blades 206-209 out of engagement with their associated terminals. This breaks the power circuit to the motor 14 and also breaks the power circuit to the brake control relay winding 217.

The breaking of the control circuit causes deenergization of the brake disengaging relay 179 and this permits contacts 220 and 289 to retract from engagement with contacts 290 and 291. The opening of the contact 220 from engagement with the contact 290 immediately effects deenergization of the brake control relay winding 217 and this permits contacts 162 and 155 of the brake control relay to retract and engage contacts 245 and 247 respectively. and 155 the power circuit for energizing the brake engaging solenoid 96 is completed. Actually, the completion of the circuit to the brake engaging solenoid 96 and the breaking of the circuit to the brake disengaging solenoid 95, as a result of the opening of the contact 220 from engagement with the contact 290, takes place prior to the breaking of the power circuit to the motor 14. This is due to the fact that before the power circuit to the motor 14 is broken, not only must the contacts 255 and 256 of motor control relay move to their open positions but thereafter, the forward solenoid core 205 must retract to the position where switch blades 206-209 no longer engage their associated terminals. There is a certain amount of lag in the retraction of the forward solenoid core 205 and as a result the brake 16 is actually applied before power for the motor 14 is cut off.

Upon the deenergization of the light control relay winding 266, as a result of the breaking of the control circuit, the movable contacts 198 and 268 retract and engage contacts 269 and 270 respectively. The closing of the contact 268 against the contact 270 completes a circuit from the terminal 276 of the secondary winding 277 of isolation transformer 193 over leads 275 and 274, closed contacts 270 and 268, over lead 271 to the cathode 272 of the tube 273. The completion of this circuit returns the control grid 383 to the cathode 272, and after condenser 386 discharges through potentiometer 385, current flows from filament 377 to plate 354 thereby completing an energizing circuit for the winding 349 of the time delay relay 301. As is apparent, there is a lag in the Upon this movement of the contacts 162 subsequent reenergization of the winding 349, which in one application of the present control system is of the order of three to five seconds and accordingly contact 300 does not reengage contact 302 until a certain time interval has elapsed after the closure of contact 268 against contact 270.

It has been found that the time delay in closing contacts 300 and 302 is desirable as this insures that the motor 14 will be completely stopped before it is possible to again start the motor 14 by depression of either the start button 171 or the reverse button 172. The motor is held stopped by reason of the fact that the brake disengaging relay 179 is deenergized and the inching relay 180 is also deenergized, thereby preventing the remaking of the circuit to the brake control relay winding 217, until such time as the time delay relay winding 349 is again energized so as to cause the core 350 to attract contact 300 causing it to engage contact 302.

The retraction of movable contact 198 of the light control relay 176 into engagement with the contact 269 completes the energizing circuit for one or the other of the green or amber indicator lights 279 and 280. The indicator light 279 or 280 which is illuminated is determined by which switch 134 or 135 is closed. It will be recalled that the switch 134 is closed when the cam 32 occupies any position wherein there would be insufficient time to effect clutch engagement prior to the roller 39 riding up the slope 41 and that this fact is indicated by the illumination of the amber indicator light 280. It will also be recalled that when the cam 32 occupies a position wherein there would be sufficient time for the clutch 15 to be engaged, the cam 132 effects closure of the switch 135 thereby completing the circuit for causing illumination of the green indicator light 279. In other words, when the weaving machine stops with the amber light illuminated the reverse button is to be depressed to cause the motor 14 to drive the machine reversely in order to return the cam 32 to a position that will allow SllfilCifiIlt time for the clutch 15 to be engaged when the motor is again started. When the machine stops with the green indicator light 279 illuminated, after the trouble which caused the machine to stop has been remedied, it is not necessary to inch the machine backwardly by depression of the reverse button 172, or forwardly, but instead, the start button 171 may be depressed in order to drive the machine forwardly when the time delay relay functions to again condition the control circuit for operation.

When the time delay relay 301 becomes reenergized and causes contact 300 to engage contact 302, a circuit is established from terminal 296 of secondary winding 295 of transformer 189, over lead 297 to terminal 298, over lead 299, through contacts 300 and 302, over lead 303, terminal 304, leads 306 and 404, through winding 292 of inching relay 180, over leads 405, 406,318, 319 and 320 to the opposite terminal 321 of the secondary winding 295. The energizing of the inching relay winding 292 causes the core 293 to attract contact 294 and thereby condition the brake control relay for operation. If the control circuit for energizing the brake disengaging relay 179, the motor control relay 175 and the light control relay 17 6 is not completed upon energization of the inching relay Winding 292, the machine may be inched either forwardly or backwardly by depressing either the start button 171 or the reverse button 172 until the control circuit is again completed.

Upon the subsequent completion of the control circuit, the light control relay winding 266 is again energized and the core 267 attracts the two contacts 198 and 268, thereby breaking the circuit to either indicator light 279 or 280 and the circuit to the cathode 272 of the tube 273. When the latter circuit to the cathode 272 is broken the condenser 386 is recharged, applying a negative potential to control grid 383 which stops the flow of current from filament 377 to plate 354, thereby deenergizing the winding 349 of the time delay relay 301 and permitting the contact 300 to become disengaged from-contact 302. The condenser 353 causes relay 301 to hold contacts 300 and 302 engaged for a short period of time after current ceases to fiow from filament 377 to plate 354. The time delay mechanism 178 is thereupon conditioned for the next timing cycle.

It will be noted that whenever the main driving motor 14 is actuated, the mill motor 118 is also actuated and this insures that there will be a supply of louver wire maintained in the storage bin 119 at all times. It will be further noted that whenever the main driving motor 14 stops, the mill motor 118 also stops and this is due to the fact that the locking circuit for the forward solenoid 152 is in parallel with the energizing circuit for the mill solenoid 149. It should also be borne in mind that when the main driving motor 14 is driven reversely, the mill motor 118 is not driven. It is desirable that the mill motor 118 be inoperative during the time when the main driving motor is stopped or is being inched either forwardly or reversely in order to prevent undue accumulation of louver wire in the storage bin 119.

The control panel includes the mill button 173 which may be depressed when necessary in order to cause more louver wire to be fed into the storage bin. The depression of the mill button 173 causes the switch blade 397 to bridge terminals 399 and 400, completing an energizing circuit for the mill solenoid winding 232 which extends from line 181 over leads 184 and 195, through terminal 1%, blade M1 and terminal 402, lead 411, terminal 400, blade 397, terminal 399, lead 413, through the winding 232 of mill solenoid 149, through terminal 200 and over leads 199 and 185 to line 182. As has already been described, upon energization of the mill solenoid winding 232, power circuits are completed to the mill motor 118.

If for any reason it is ever desired to manually stop the weaving machine, this may be accomplished by depressing the stop button 174. It will be noted that the depression of the stop button breaks all circuits to the forward solenoid 152, reverse solenoid 154 and mill solenoid 149.

By the present invention there has been provided a practical and efficient driving mechanism for a wire fabric weaving machine of the type adapted to weave a wire fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together or tied between each adjacent pair of louver wires to hold the louver wires in place. The present invention also provides an eificient control system for a wire fabric weaving machine, with means being included for controlling the operation of the machine and with particular emphasis having been placed upon the rapid stopping of the machine whenever it functions improperly.

It is contemplated that numerous changes and modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wire fabric weaving machine adapted to weave a wire fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between each adjacent pair of louver wires to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of means defining a channel adapted to receive the louver wires, means intermittently operable for advancing the louver wires into said .channel, a plurality of spaced rotatable quills each adapted to receive a pair of the warp wires and twist them together adjacent to the louver wire disposed in said channel to provide a twist in said warp wires between each adjacent pair of louver wires, a driving motor, means drivingly connecting said louver wire advancing means with said motor, means: drivingly connecting said quills and said motor and normally effective to actuate said quills to cause twisting of the pairs of warp wires in timed sequence with the intermittent operation of said louver wire advancing means, a brake for the machine, an engaging solenoid and a disengaging solenoid respectively operable for engaging and disengaging said brake, an operating circuit for said solenoids and said motor, and a control solenoid for said operating circuit and having an armature movable into a first position for completing the operating circuit for the brake disengaging solenoid and the motor and movable into a second position for completing the operating circuit for said brake engaging solenoid and simultaneously breaking theopcrating circuit for the motor. 1

2. A wire fabric weaving machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means drivingly connecting the quills and the motor includes a clutch engageable to complete the drive, and including a control for effecting engagement of said clutch and operable in timed sequence with the intermittent operation of the louver wire advancing means.

3. A wire fabric weaving machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means drivingly connecting the quills and the motor comprises a clutch engageable to complete the drive, and including a control for effecting engagement of said clutch and comprising a solenoid having an energizing circuit adapted to be energized to cause engagement of said clutch in timed sequence with the intermittent operation of the louver wire advancing means.

4. A wire fabric weaving machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means drivingly connecting the quills and the motor comprises a clutch engageable to complete the drive, and including a control for effecting engagement of said clutch and comprising a solenoid having an energizing circuit including a switch which when closed completes the energizing c-ircuitto cause engagement of said clutch and adapted to be closed in timed sequence with the intermittent operation of the louver wire advancing means.

5. In a wire fabric weaving machine adapted to weave a wire fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between each adjacent pair of louver wires to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of means defining a channel adapted to receive the louver wires, means intermittently operable for successively advancing louver wires into said channel, a plurality of spaced rotatable quills each adapted to receive a pair of the warp wires and twist them together adjacent to the louver wire disposed in said channel to provide a twist in said warp wires between each adjacent pair of louver wires, a driving motor, means drivingly connecting said louver wire advancing means with said motor, means for drivingly connecting said quills with said motor and including a clutch for completing the drive to said quills upon engagement of the clutch, and control means for effecting engagement of said clutch in timed sequence with the intermittent operation of said louver wire advancing means.

6. A wire fabric weaving machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for drivingly connecting the quills with the motor includes a shaft driven directly by the clutch and having a plurality of spaced beveled gears secured thereto and 'a plurality of bevelled gears adapted to respectively mesh with said first-named bevelled gears and each being respectively drivingly connected with a group of said quills.

7. In a wire fabric weaving machine adapted to weave a wire fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabricwith each pair of warp wires being twisted together between channel, a plurality of spaced rotatable quills each adapted to receive a pair of the warp ,wires and twist them together adjacent to the louver wire disposed in said channel to provide a twist in said warp wires between successive louver wires, a driving motor, a brake for the machine, a solenoid for engaging said brake upon energization of the solenoid, means drivingly connecting said motor with said louver wire advancing means and with said quills, a circuit for controlling the operation of said motor and brake solenoid and eltective to render the motor operable and to deenergize the solenoid upon completion of the circuit, and a normally closed switch in said circuit and disposed adjacent the entrance of said channel, the switch being adapted to be opened by a louver wire being advanced by said advancing means upon failure of such louver wire to proceed through said channel to thereby break said circuit so as to stop the motor and energize the brake engaging solenoid.

8. In a Wire fabric weaving machine adapted to weave a wire fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between each adjacent pair of louver wires to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of means defining a channel adapted to receive the louver wires, means intermittently operable for successively advancing louver wires into said channel, a plurality of spaced rotatable quills each adapted to receive a pair of the warp wires and twist them together adjacent to the louver Wire disposed in said channel to provide a twist in said warp wires between successive louver wires, a driving motor, a brake for the machine, a solenoid for engaging said brake upon energization of the solenoid, means drivingly connecting said motor with said louver wire advancing means and with said quills, a circuit for controlling the operation of said motor and brake solenoid and effective to render the motor operable and to deenergize the solenoid upon completion of the circuit, a normally closed switch in said circuit adapted to complete the circuit when closed, means for opening said normally closed switch in timed sequence with said louver wire advancing means, a second switch connected in parallel with said first-named switch and adapted to be closed upon advance of each louver wire to a predetermined position in the channel, said second switch being closed normally during each interval when the first-named switch is opened so as to normally retain said circuit completed, said second switch remaining open upon failure of a louver wire to advance to said predetermined position in the channel and thereby causing a break in said circuit so as to stop the motor and energize the brake engaging circuit.

9. In a wire fabric weaving machine adapted to weave a wire fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between each adjacent pair of louver wires to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of means defining a channel adapted to receive the louver wires, means intermittently operable for successively advancing louver Wires into said channel, a plurality of spaced rotatable quills each adapted to receive a pair of the warp wires and twist them together adjacent to the louver wire disposed in said channel to provide a twist in said warp wires between successive louver wires, a driving motor, a brake for the machine, a solenoid for engaging said brake upon energization of the solenoid, means drivingly connecting said motor with said louver wire advancing means and with said quills, a circuit for controlling the operation of said motor and brake solenoid and eifective to render the motor operable and to deenergize the solenoid upon completion of the circuit, a normally closed switch in said circuit adapted to complete the circuit when closed, a cam driven by said motor and adapted to open said normally closed switch in timed sequence with said louver wire advancing means, a second switch connected in parallel with said first-named switch and adapted to be closed upon advance of each louver wire to a predetermined position in the channel, said second switch being closed normally during each interval when the first-named switch is opened so as to normally maintain said circuit completed, said second switch remaining open upon failure of a louver wire to advance to said predetermined posi tion in the channel, and thereby causing a break in said circuit so as to stop the motor and energize the brake engaging circuit.

10. In a wire fabric weaving machine adapted to weave a wire fabric consisting of a plurality of spaced louver wires extending across the fabric and a plurality of pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between each adjacent pair of louver wires to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of means defining a channel adapted to receive the louver wires, means intermittently operable for successively advancing louver wires into said channel, a plurality of spaced rotatable quills each adapted to receive a pair of the warp wires and twist them together adjacent to the louver wire disposed in the channel to provide a twist in said warp wires between successive louver wires, a driving motor, a brake for the machine, a solenoid for engaging said brake upon energization of the solenoid, means drivingly connecting said motor with said louver wire advancing means and with said quills, a circuit for controlling the operation of said motor and brake solenoid and effective to render the motor operable and to deenergize the solenoid upon completion of the circuit, a normally closed switch in said circuit adapted to complete the circuit when closed, means for opening said normally closed switch in timed sequence with said louver wire advancing means, a second switch connected in parallel with said first-named switch, an electronic device for sensing the arrival of each louver wire into a predetermined position in the channel, means actuated by said electronic device for closing said second switch when the louver wire is in said predetermined position in the channel so as to maintain said circuit completed during each interval when the first-named switch is opened so as to normally maintain said circuit completed, said electronic device being ineffective to cause a closure of said second switch upon failure of said louver wire to advance to said predetermined position in the channel and thereby causing a break in said circuit so as to stop the motor and energize the brake engaging circuit.

11. In a machine for weaving wire fabric comprising spaced laterally extending louver wires and spaced pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between successive louver wires so as to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of a motor for driving the machine, a brake for stopping the machine, a circuit for controlling said motor and brake and including a first solenoid effective upon being energized to engage said brake and a second solenoid effective upon being energized to disengage said brake, said circuit also including means operable to effect energization of said first solenoid and deenergization of said second solenoid to thereby cause engagement of said brake, and time delay mechanism for controlling said last-named means and rendered effective upon the operation thereof for preventing disengagement of said brake for a predetermined time interval.

12. In a machine for weaving wire fabric comprising spaced laterally extending louver wires and spaced pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between successive louver wires so as to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of a motor for driving the machine, a brake for stopping the machine, acircuit for controlling said motor and brake and including a first solenoid effective upon being energized to engage said brake and a second solenoid effective upon being energized to disengage said brake, said circuit also including means operable to effect energization of said first solenoid and deenergization of said second solenoid to thereby cause engagement of said brake, time delay mechanism for controlling said last-named means and rendered effective upon the operation thereof for preventing disengagement of said brake for a predetermined time interval, and manually controlled means rendered effective by said time delay mechanism after said predetermined time interval has elaphed for actuating said circuit to start said motor and disengage said brake.

13. In a machine for weaving wire fabric comprising spaced laterally extending louver wires and spaced pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between successive louver wires so as to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of a motor for driving the machine, a brake for stopping the machine, a solenoid for engaging said brake, a solenoid for disengaging said brake, a power circuit for said motor and including means for controlling said solenoids for engaging and disengaging said brake, manually operable selecting means for said power circuit for selectively effecting forward or reverse rotation of said motor, and means rendered effective upon the operation of said selecting means for energizing the brake disengaging solenoid and deenergizing the brake engaging solenoid when said power circuit is effective to cause the motor to be rotated in either direction,

14. In a machine for weaving wire fabric comprising spaced laterally extending louver wires and spaced pairs of warp wires extending lengthwise of the fabric with each pair of warp wires being twisted together between successive louver wires so as to hold the louver wires in place, the combination of a motor for driving the machine, a brake for stopping the machine, a power circuit for said motor, a pair of solenoids for respectively engaging and disengaging said brake, a circuit for controlling said solenoids and including a pair of switches both of which must be closed to complete the circuit, said last-named circuit being effective upon completion thereof to effect energization of the brake disengaging solenoid and deenergization of the brake engaging solenoid, a time delay mechanism for delaying the closure of one of said switches for a predetermined time interval, and manually controlled means for closing the other of said switches and simultaneously completing said power circuit for said motor.

15. In a machine for weaving wire fabric comprising spaced laterally extending louver wires and spaced pairs of longitudinally extending warp wires, the combination of means defining a channel for receiving successive louver wires, a plurality of quills disposed adjacent said channel and each being adapted to receive a pair of warp wires, a driving motor for the machine, means driven by said motor for advancing successive louver wires into said channel, means driven by said motor for rotating said quills to thereby twist each pair of warp wires together at points adjacent to the louver wire disposed in said channel, means for effecting operation of said quill rotating means in timed sequence with the operation of said louver wire advancing means to thereby cause twisting of each pair of warp Wires together adjacent each louver wire, a control circuit including a plurality of sensing switches for breaking the circuit whenever one of the louver wires is improperly positioned in said channel immediately prior to the operation of said quill rotating means, a power circuit for said driving motor, a brake for the machine, a circuit for controlling the engagement of said brake, and switch means controlled by said control circuit and rendered effective whenever the control circuit is broken for breaking said power circuit for said 22 motor and actuating said brake controlling circuit so as to effect engagement of said brake to immediately stop the machine.

16. A wire fabric weaving machine as set forth in claim 15, and including a manually controlled switch for again completing the power circuit for the motor after it has been broken by the control circuit, and a time delay mechanism for the-brake controlling circuit for causing the brake to remain engaged for a predetermined interval of time.

17. A wire fabric weaving machine as set forth in claim 15 and including a manually controlled switch for again completing the power circuit for the motor after it has been broken by the control circuit, and an electronic time delay mechanism for the brake controlling circuit for causing the brake to remain engaged for a predetermined interval of time after the switch means controlled by the control circuit actuates the brake controlling circuit so as to effect engagement of the brake.

18. In a machine for weaving wire fabric comprising spaced laterally extending louver wires and spaced pairs of longitudinally extending warp wires, the combination of means defining a channel for receiving successive louver wires, a plurality of quills disposed adjacent said channel and each being adapted to receive a pair of warp wires, a driving motor for the machine, means driven by said motor for advancing successive louver wires into said channel, means driven by said motor for rotating said quills to thereby twist each pair of warp wires together adjacent to the louver wire disposed in said channel, means for effecting operation of said quill rotating means in timed sequence with the operation of siad louver wire advancing means to thereby cause twisting of each pair of warp wires together adjacent each louver wire, a control circuit including a plurality of sensing switches for breaking the circuit whenever one of the louver wires is improperly positioned in said channel immediately prior to the operation of said quill rotating means, a power circuit for said driving motor, a brake for the machine, a first solenoid effective upon being energized for engaging said brake, a second solenoid effective upon being energized for disengaging said brake, a circuit for controlling the operation of said solenoids and effective upon being completed for energizing the brake disengaging solenoid and deenergizing the brake engaging solenoid, manually controlled means for completing said power circuit, a switch in said solenoid controlling circuit movable to a closed condition upon the operation of said manually controlled means, a second switch in said solenoid controlling circuit, and time delay mechanism under the control of said control circuit and effective to open said second switch in said solenoid controlling circuit and maintain said second switch in an open condition for a predetermined time interval after the control circuit is broken by one of said sensing switches, whereby said brake remains engaged and said manually controlled means is ineffective to start the machine for said predetermined time interval.

19. In control mechanism for a weaving machine having a driving motor and a brake for stopping the machine, the combination of a control circuit including a plurality of sensing switches each of which is adapted to break said circuit, a power circuit for said motor, manual means operable for completing said power circuit, said control circuit including a motor control relay for maintaining said power circuit completed for so long as said control circuit is completed, a brake controlling relay effective upon being energized to cause disengagement of said brake, said control circuit including a brake disengaging relay having a switch which is closed when the relay is energized and which is connected in series with said brake controlling relay, said brake disengaging relay being effective upon the breaking of said control circuit to cause said brake controlling relay to immediately effect engagement of the brake and said motor control relay being effective upon the breaking of said control circuit to break said power circuit for the motor, and time delay mechanism rendered operable upon the breaking of said control circuit for preventing reenergization of said brake controlling relay for a predetermined interval of time after the breaking of said control circuit to thereby insure that the brake remains engaged until the machine reaches a complete stop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 24 .Snedeker Nov. 27, Cocker Aug. 9, Strobridge Aug. 9, Pearson Oct. 25, Kilmer s Jan. 30, Heinze Sept. 10, Ewing Nov. 26, Glasner Oct. 21, Stuhlman Feb. 20, Stuhlman June 18, Nygard July 5, Laxo Aug. 28, Sampatacos Dec. 21, 

